296 



FLORA AND SYLVA. 



high upon the Briar, it quickly forms 

 fine specimens, oras a Rose for the rock 

 garden it is equally striking and beauti- 

 ful. It is easily multiplied by cuttings 

 or by grafting, the red and white forms 

 being sometimes grafted on the same 

 plant with rather pretty effect. 



THE COMMON OAK AND THE 

 RED OAK. 



The difference between these two native Oaks 

 has been a matter for dispute. By MM. Boppe 

 and Jolyet in Les Forets, the difference is made 

 clear, an easier matter in France and other parts 

 of the conti nent, where there is a larger area in 

 which to compare the two kinds. The nature 

 of the soil seems a matter of small moment, 

 both Oaks being at home in clay, if not too 

 compact. Although it had long been thought 

 that both kinds were equally indifferent in this 

 respect it is now known that the common Oak 

 needs a cooler soil than the Red. Soils formed 

 of clay and sand, and even submerged at certain 

 seasons, are especially favourable to it, as essen- 

 tially a tree of the plains and valleys. The Red 

 Oak prefers lighter soils, gravelly, sandy, or 

 chalky, it matters not if given enough clay to 

 maintain the coolness which is indispensable. 

 Its favourite situation is on the slopes of hills, 

 table-lands, or the sides of mountains, where 

 it finds all the conditions which it needs. In 

 planting it is impossible to over-rate the im- 

 portance of this difference between the two 

 kinds. Both Oaks are found almost everywhere 

 in France, save on the high mountains and in 

 the warmest parts of the south. The common 

 Oak is most abundant in the south-west where 

 it is almost the sole tree of the forests of the 

 Landes and the Adour basin. In Normandy it 

 is common in hedgerows, and is frequent in the 

 alluvial soils of the Saone and the great valleys. 

 The Red Oak prevails in the central and more 

 hilly regions of France, being found at a height 

 of 3,000 feet and upwards. It prevails in the 

 temperate zone, characterising with its abund- 

 ance a region which often merges with that of 

 the Vine. Varieties : — As is common in trees of 

 wide distribution these two kinds are found in 

 minor varieties, of which two are well marked. 

 The Downy Oak is a form of the Red Oak, 



common in the south of France, though often 

 only as a small tree, crooked and misshapen, and 

 even no bigger than a bush, but remarkable for 

 its endurance in stony barren soils, sunscorched 

 through a great part of the year. The June- 

 leafing Oak is a variety of the common Oak, 

 which is slower to come into leaf, and so less 

 exposed to damage by late frosts. This charac- 

 teristic is very marked when grown side by side 

 with the common form, there being a differ- 

 ence of from four to eight weeks in their time 

 of leafing, the one kind being frequently in full 

 leaf before the buds of the late form begin to 

 expand. This sub-variety is common in the 

 valley of the Saone, in parts of that of the Loire, 

 and in other districts of central Europe. The 

 habit of the tree is also more upright, an ad- 

 vantage due perhaps to its rarely beingchecked 

 by late frosts. 



THE CLIMBING SOLANUMS. 



The Solanum family embraces plants of much 

 and varied beauty from all parts of the world, 

 many of them remarkable for their fine foli- 

 age, often beautifully spined and cut ; some 

 interesting in their brilliant fruits found in 

 many colours; and others valued for their fine 

 flowers. Though several amongst them bear 

 coloured fruits, the merit of the climbing So- 

 lanums lies in their flowers, borne in profu- 

 sion as hanging clusters which, seen upon a 

 garden wall or a greenhouse roof, are exceed- 

 ingly attractive. They are most of them natives 

 of South America and the West Indies, so that 

 even in mild districts, few can be used in 

 the open in this country but amongst green- 

 house climbers there are none better worth 

 growing, or so easy in culture. Their growth 

 is rapid, and young plants (which are easily 

 rooted as cuttings) grow fast and flower within 

 a few months. They need little attention be- 

 yond keeping clean, and a good pruning in 

 early spring. In a family so vast there are many 

 species which are mere weeds, and often dan- 

 gerous, as in the case of our native Bittersweet, 

 but the following kinds are beautiful and of 

 great value in gardens : — 



Horn-fruited Solanum (S. cornigerurri). 

 — Though the erect star-shaped violet flowers 

 of this species are not without beauty, its dis- 

 tinctive merit lies in the hanging fruits of fine 

 appearance which succeed them. They are as 



